TERMS AND CONDITIONS

General Information & Conditions

Introduction – Your Travel Agreement

These are the terms and conditions under which Ritz Tours, Inc. offers tours. Please read it carefully. By your making or being named on a booking reservation with us and paying a deposit or having a deposit paid for you, you have entered into a travel agreement with us.

You agree that you have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, consent to our use of information about you in accordance with our Privacy Policy, are over 18 years of age, and when placing an order for services with age restrictions declare that you are of the appropriate age and have authority to purchase those services. We reserve the right under terms and conditions below to cancel your booking reservation, return your pre-confirmation deposit, and decline to issue, or cancel a confirmation.

Reservation and Cancellation

Deposit:
A deposit of $300 per person is required at the time of booking of the reservation. Reservation will automatically be cancelled if you deposit is not received by Ritz Tours within 7 days after booking of the reservation.

Final Payment:

a) Land Only Packages: The balance of the price must be paid at least 60 days prior to the departure date. If you book less than 60 days prior to the departure date, the final payment will be due upon booking. We have the right to cancel your booking and retain any deposit if the balance is not paid by the due date.

b) Land & Air Packages: The balance of the price must be paid at least 60 days prior to the departure date. Ritz Tours may require earlier payment of the airfare portion of your tour. If you book less than 60 days prior to the departure date, the final payment is due upon booking. If the balance is not paid by the due date then Ritz Tours has the right to cancel your booking and retain any deposit, cancel any airfare from your Land & Air Package, and change your reservation to a Land Only Package. You will be charged a late payment fee of $50 per person for each late payment we receive.

Cancellation:
If you cancel your booking, a per person fee will be charged according to the date Ritz Tours receives and acknowledge your cancellation as follows:

A. US $100 120 or more days prior to departure date

B. US $200 60-119 days prior to departure date

C. US $300 30-59 days prior to departure date

D. US $500 15-29 days prior to departure date

E. US $1000 3-14 days prior to departure date

F. 100% of Tour Fare Within 48 hours prior to departure including no show on the day of departure

Cancellation Notice: Written notice of cancellation must be received by Ritz Tours either by personal delivery, mail, fax, or e-mail. Your notice of cancellation will only be effective when it is received in writing by us and acknowledged.

Third-party Suppliers' Penalties and Charges: In addition to the above stated cancellation charges, if tickets or vouchers for airlines, hotels, cruises, trains or any relevant third-party supplier have already been issued or confirmation of service has been received at the time of cancellation (regardless of number of days prior to departure), the traveler will be wholly liable for any additional airline, hotel, cruise line, train or other relevant third-party supplier's cancellation penalties and service charges pursuant to suppliers’ rules and regulations.

Single Room Supplement Charge: In the event of cancellation by your travel companion or roommate, you will be responsible for the additional resultant single room supplement charge.

Certain Arrangements: Certain arrangements with third-party suppliers may not be able to be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration may incur a cancellation charge to you of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

TOUR FARE INCLUDES : (All prices are in U.S. dollars on per person basis)

Travel Insurance:

When your reservation for our regular vacation packages is confirmed and full payment has been received by the payment due date, we will purchase the Travel Insurance Plan from Travelex, a third party insurance carrier, on your behalf and provide it on a complimentary basis to you for your vacation purchased with us. Please note that any city packages, customized travel packages, web or any special packages or promotions will not include complimentary travel insurance, and the Travelex Insurance Plan is only available for U.S. citizens and U.S. residents.

Note: Ritz Tours is not licensed to sell insurance, and cannot answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of the Travel Insurance Plan. All questions about the travel insurance should be directed to Travelex.

Air Transportation:

A. Land Only Packages
Travelers that purchase Land Only Packages are responsible for ALL their air segments (unless otherwise specified). Please review the tour itinerary and features carefully, paying special attention to the dates, time, and cities of arrival and departure, and plan your own air itinerary accordingly.
Special airfares from your hometown are available with the purchase of our tour series. Please check our website for up-to-date offers. Offered airfare prices are good only with the concurrent purchase of our tour series. A 60-day advance purchase is required at the offered prices.
Land Only Package travelers are responsible for arrival airport transfer (to hotel) and departure airport transfer (from hotel).
- Hotel check-in time is from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Hotel check-out time is from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
- Hotel check-in and check-out times vary from hotel to hotel

B. Land & Air Packages
For travelers that elect to purchase an Air Package along with the Land Package, a round-trip international economy class air ticket from the gateway city New York (JFK) and all intra-tour air tickets (if applicable) are included with the tour as per itinerary (except city packages).
For departure gateway cities other than New York (JFK), please consult your travel agent or Ritz Tours regarding the U.S. domestic add-on airfare.
Air carrier and routing is at the sole discretion of Ritz Tours. Travelers who elect to purchase their own U.S. domestic add-on air ticket to the gateway city do so at their own risk. Ritz Tours reserves the right to book all flights at the lowest available fare and also reserve the right to change all airlines used without prior notice.
All government taxes/fees and fuel surcharges associated with airline tickets are included in the advertised airfare and subject to change at any time during the year. Amounts listed in the brochure are as of the date of printing the brochure. For the most up-to-date prices please check our website.

Hotel Accommodations:

Hotel accommodations are based on two adults sharing one twin bedded room. Some hotels may have a maximum room occupancy limit. Triple rooms are subject to availability at the time of check-in and are on request only.

A customer occupying a single room is required to pay a single supplement fee. Single rooms are subject to availability at time of booking.

When the hotel listed in the brochure or website is unavailable, a similar category hotel will be substituted without prior notice.

Meals:
Meals will be provided in hotels, local restaurants, or on the cruise ship as specified in the itinerary.

Sightseeing:
While the sightseeing program is specified in the itinerary, its final arrangements will be determined by the local tour escort or tour manager based on circumstances which may be beyond the control of Ritz Tours, such as weather, acts of God, dangers, incidents to the sea, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of government or authorities and wars under local conditions. However, we will adhere to the original itinerary as accurately as possible.

Admissions / Entrance Fees:
All necessary main entrance fees for the programs or places are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tour Manager:
Service of a professional tour manager is included as specified in the itinerary, but some destinations are locally hosted.

Tour Fare Does Not Include:

Round-trip airfare from your hometown (for Land Only Packages) or round-trip airfare from your hometown to the gateway city (for Land & Air Packages); meals not mentioned in itinerary; insurance premiums; charges arising from deviations; any expenses due to delay or changes of schedule, overbooking of accommodations, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strike, acts of God, acts of terrorism, force majeure, acts of government’s civil disturbances, war, quarantine, customs regulations, epidemics, criminal activity or for any other cause beyond Ritz Tours’ control; any personal charges including but not limited to passport and visa fees, excess baggage charges, phone bills, postage, laundry, drinks and beverages; any airline's imposed ancillary charges that may change from time to time if any, and may be without prior notice, including but not limited to hand luggage fee, check-in luggage fee, seating assignment fee, Wi-Fi charge, in-flight meals and entertainment expenses.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:

Unused Tour Features:Any unused tour features either on air transportation or for land arrangements are not refundable, exchangeable or transferable.

Tour Price Guarantee:
All prices in our brochure and website are in U.S. dollars and are based on rates and costs in effect at the time of printing the brochure or posting on the website. Your tour price is guaranteed once Ritz Tours has received your full payment. Prior to full payment, it is important to note that there may be price changes due to fluctuations in any of the cost factors, such as exchange rate and government imposed surcharges that you will be responsible for.

Departure Guarantee:
Departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 adult passengers for tours RGI, REI, RKS, RKN, RAK; with a minimum of 6 passengers for tours RIB, RSF. When the total number of tour members should fall below 15 persons for tours REF, RED, RSP, Ritz Tours reserves the right to cancel the tour, to change the hotels, or to change to locally hosted facilities.

Health , Active Elements, Medical Conditions and Special Assistance:

Some of our Tours incorporate active elements such as ingress and egress from buses and vessels, walking long distances, or sightseeing; you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the level of activity that will be involved in your Tour. You must disclose at the time of booking (or at such later time when you become aware of such a condition) any existing physical or mental illness, disability, pregnancy or any other condition which may create a health hazard for yourself or others during the Tour or for which you may require medical attention or special accommodation during the Tour. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your needs, but you must notify us at the time of booking for a determination of what assistance we can reasonably provide. We regret that we cannot accommodate you if you have special needs for ordinary daily activities, such as walking and dining. In no instance will our Suppliers or we physically lift or assist you on to or off any vehicles. If we cannot accommodate your special needs, you must be accompanied by a companion who will be responsible for independently providing the needed assistance. Ritz Tours recommends that travelers be in good health. Please consult your physician regarding your medical condition and ability to travel long distances. Ritz Tours will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of disabled participants, but is not responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other suppliers.
We reserve the right to decline acceptance of anyone we consider unsuitable due to fitness level. We also reserve the right to remove you from the Tour, at your own expense, if your condition is such that it could create a hazard to you or others, or otherwise impact the enjoyment of other passengers.

Participation In and Conduct During The Tour:
You are responsible for respecting the authority and following the directions of the Tour Guide and the laws of the countries in your Itinerary during a Tour. We may exclude you from participating in all or any part of the Tour if, in our sole discretion, your condition or behavior renders you unfit for the Tour or unfit for continuation once the Tour has begun. Unfitness may include, without limitation, any behavior that, regardless of its cause, is inappropriate or offensive or interferes with the delivery of Tour services or may constitute a hazard or embarrassment. In such case, our liability shall be strictly limited to refund of the recoverable cost of any unused portion of the Tour.
Should you decide for any reason not to participate in certain parts of the Tour or use certain goods included in the Tour, no refunds will be made for those unused parts of the Tour or goods.
You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against any costs, damages, losses or liabilities arising out of (a) the actions or omissions of any minors traveling with you and (b) if you are signing on behalf of yourself and your traveling companions, your companions’ claims that you were not authorized to agree to this Participant Agreement on their behalf.

Baggage:
We assume no liability for loss or damage to baggage or delay of baggage in transit to and from a Tour or while on a Tour. We recommend purchasing a supplemental travel insurance package. For up-to-date baggage allowance restrictions, always check with the appropriate airline for the latest regulations. Baggage allowance varies by airline and is subject to change at any time. Some airlines may impose additional charges for check-in baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline’s checked baggage policies prior to departure. Baggage allowance on overseas internal flights may vary from baggage allowance on international flights. Excess baggage charges and insurance is at the owner’s responsibility. Please ask Ritz Tours if you would like a list of your confirmed carriers for overseas internal flights prior to departure in order to check baggage restrictions.

Deviation Charge:
Any deviation to your itinerary (early departure or late return) is subject to availability. In addition to any airline(s), hotel(s), relevant supplier’s or transfer surcharge(s), you will be charged a fee of US$100 per person for any deviation from the tour.

Change Fee:
One change to your itinerary is allowed free of charge after your reservation is confirmed, subject to availability. $50 will be charged per person for each subsequent change. Once document and/ or ticket have been issued, no change is permitted.

Travel Documents / E-Tickets:
In general, all travel documents will be sent to you approximately 21 days prior to departure via 2nd day priority. Overnight delivery can be arranged at an additional cost. If we obtained an entry visa for you, the passport will be sent with the travel documents..

Passport:
All customers' passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the return date of your trip. Please consult with your travel agent or Ritz Tours if you have a non-U.S. passport.

Entry Visa:We assume you hold a valid US passport.

No entry visa is required for U.S. passport holders travelling to: Schengen Member Countries - For a stay of up to 90 days from the date of entry (for a full list of countries please visit http://ec.europa.eu) United Arab Emirates - Travelers may obtain an entry visa at the port of entry for no fee and valid for stay of up to 30 days
South Africa - For a stay of up to 90 days, however all travelers are required to have at least two blank visa pages in their passports for entry stamps (for more information: http://www.southafrica-newyork.net)

An entry visa is required for U.S. passport holders travelling to: India - U.S. passport holders may apply directly with the appropriate embassy prior to arrival. Indian visa regulations change frequently. Travelers are advised to check the web site of Indian Government's Ministry of Home Affairs at http://www.mha.nic.in.
Kenya - Kenya Immigration has instituted a new visa policy whereby all visitors must obtain visas by using a new online system (https:// immigration.ecitizen.go.ke). While exceptions may be made in emergency situations, all visitors arriving should apply for and obtain the e-visa rather than obtaining a visa upon arrival at Kenyan airports, as has been done historically. For more information regarding the Kenyan e-visa program, please contact Kenya Immigration in Nairobi or the Kenyan embassy in Washington, D.C.. Contact information can be found at www.kenyaembassy.com.
•It is the responsibility of travelers to obtain proper visas in a timely manner. For non-U.S. passport holders, please consult your travel agent or Ritz Tours at least 2 months prior to your departure date
•Ritz Tours is not responsible if you are denied entrance for any reason at any foreign country, even if you hold a valid passport and entry visa.
•Visa requirements may change at any time. Please check with the Embassy or Consulate of the country which you will be traveling to.

Late Booking: Bookings made less than 60 days prior to the departure are subject to availability and a surcharge of $50 per person. Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Charge for Children:For children 11 years old and under

International Airfare: same as the regular adult airfare.

Land Only Package Price: If the child shares the same room with two adults and does not require an extra bed, the cost is 80% of the regular adult price. If the child shares the same room with one adult, or with two adults but requires an extra bed, the cost is 100% of the regular adult price. Exception: RKS, RKN (please see the child fare policy in tour RKS, RKN).

Children 12 years old and older will be charged the regular adult price.

Shopping:
Ritz Tours' tour managers and representatives are happy to assist you with any shopping requirements while on tour. Ritz Tours does not take any responsibility for any items purchased at shops on the tour. You are strongly advised to observe U.S. customs restrictions when bringing home any goods from tour (for more information please visit www.cbp.gov).

Privacy Policy:
Ritz Tours will not discuss or disclose any details of our client’s personal or trip details with any third party other than the client’s authorized agent, the airlines, hotels, land, cruise operators and any relevant third party suppliers.

Errors and Omissions:
Although Ritz Tours makes a concerted attempt to verify the accuracy of statements made herein, Ritz Tours is not responsible for any typographical or printing errors, omissions or unintentional misrepresentations made in this brochure or on the web site.

Airfare Policy

-All Airfares purchased through Ritz Tours for travel beginning in the United States are provided by air carriers who are independent operators and are not owned, managed or operated by Ritz Tours. Your airline ticket is a contract between you and the air carrier only. By purchasing your air services through Ritz Tours you agree to waive all liability to Ritz Tours for such air services.

-Ritz Tours is in no way responsible for airline cancelations, reschedules, or delays to a flight for any reason whatsoever. If you purchase air through Ritz Tours, we will try to assist you in making new arrangements, providing you have not already checked in with your airline carrier for your first flight segment.

-If you have already checked in you must liaise directly with your airline to reach your destination or to make any alternate arrangements including amendments to return services. Please be advised that airline fees will usually apply for modifications to air schedules not related to airline imposed flight cancellations, reschedules or delays. These fees will be payable to the airline directly at time of request. If you miss your departure flight or connection, it is your responsibility to work with the airline on which you are ticketed to reach your destination. No refunds will be provided by Ritz Tours for portions of trips missed due to canceled, rescheduled or delayed flights after airport check-in, nor is Ritz Tours responsible for any additional expenses you may incur prior to joining your trip if you miss your departure flight or flight connection.

-For airfares purchased through Ritz Tours, if any air schedule requires an overnight stay in a gateway city, Ritz Tours can assist you with hotel reservations; notwithstanding this, the cost of the overnight stay (including but not limited to hotel and meals) is at your expense. Air routings are subject to availability. Routings are not guaranteed and are subject to change at any time. If you make your own flight arrangements, Ritz Tours will not be responsible for any loss resulting from cancellation or changes in international gateways, itineraries or travel dates. We strongly advise that you check the airline’s terms & conditions regarding penalties for changes prior to purchasing airline tickets.

-Under the Secure Flight Program enacted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires airlines to collect information from you for the purposes of watch list matching. TSA may share information you provide with law enforcement or intelligence agencies or others under its published system of records notice. At time of booking a vacation with air reservations, Ritz Tours will collect the required information and add to your air booking to pass to the airline(s) for the Secure Flight Program. The information includes your full name (as it appears on photo ID used for travel), date of birth, gender and redress number (if available). Failure to provide the required TSA information at time of booking will result in the loss of confirmed flights and airfare price as this information is required for ticketing. Rebooking lost airfare is subject to schedule availability at time of rebooking and may result in alternate flight schedules and/or increases in airfare price. Any increase in airfare price is payable by you.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON TAXES, FEES, AND FUEL SURCHARGES

The United States Department of Transportation mandates that airline fuel surcharges and all government taxes / fees be included in the advertised price of any tour package that includes airfare. Airlines and relevant government agencies periodically change the amount of these taxes and fees throughout the year at their sole discretion. Ritz Tours has included all fuel surcharges and government taxes/ fees in our brochure and our web site based on the print date and web site listing date. Paying your tour deposit does not constitute a price guarantee. You will be responsible for any price increases due to changes in fuel surcharges / taxes / fees until you have paid the full price of your tour package.

You agree to present any claims against us within ninety (90) days after the Tour ends and to file any suit within one (1) year of the incident, and you acknowledge that this expressly limits the applicable statute of limitations to one (1) year. In lieu of litigation and jury trials, each of which is expressly waived, any dispute concerning, relating or referring to this Travel Agreement, the brochure, or any other literature concerning your trip or the Tour shall be resolved on a confidential basis exclusively by binding arbitration in Los Angeles, California according to the then existing commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any decision or award as a result of any such arbitration proceeding shall be in writing and shall provide an explanation for all conclusions of law and fact and shall include the assessment of costs, expenses, and reasonable attorneys' fees. Any such arbitration shall be conducted by an arbitrator experienced in the travel industry and shall include a written record of the arbitration hearing. The parties reserve the right to object to any individual who shall be employed by or affiliated with a competing organization or entity. An award of arbitration may be confirmed in a court of competent jurisdiction. Such proceeding will be governed by the substantive law of the State of California. The arbitrator(s) and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this Travel Agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Travel Agreement is void or voidable.

You agree to the exclusive resolution of disputes you may have against Ritz Tours is through individual arbitration on your own behalf instead of through any class action. Even if the applicable law provides otherwise, you agree that any arbitration against Ritz Tours whatsoever shall be litigated by you and not as a member of any class or as part of a class action, and you expressly agree to waive any law entitling you to participate in a class action. The general conditions under which you agree to utilize the services of Ritz Tours may not be amended in any way, except in writing, by an authorized officer of Ritz Tours. By utilizing the services of Ritz Tours, you agree that the exclusive venue for all claims shall be the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and such claims shall be determined according to the laws and jurisdiction of the State of California.

RESPONSIBILITY

Ritz Tours, as tour operator, acts only as an agent for contracted services. All travel arrangements included in this trip are made on the participant’s behalf upon the express condition that neither Ritz Tours nor its agents shall be liable or held responsible in the absence of its (or their) negligence for any direct, indirect, consequential harm, or irregularity of any kind which may be accessioned by reason of any act or omission of any person or entity, including without limitation, any act of negligence or breach of contract of any third party such as an airline, train, motor coach, private car, cruise vessel, boat, or any other conveyance, hotel, sightseeing provider, local ground-handler, restaurant, etc., which is to or does supply any goods or services for this trip. Participant understands that Ritz Tours neither owns nor operates such third party suppliers and accordingly agrees to seek remedies directly and only with those suppliers and not hold Ritz Tours responsible for their acts, omissions or commissions. Without their limiting the foregoing, Ritz Tours and its agents are not responsible for any losses or expenses due to delay or changes of schedule, over booking of accommodations, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strike, acts of God, acts of terrorism, force majeure, acts of government’s civil disturbances, war, quarantine, customs regulations, epidemics, criminal activity or for any other cause beyond its control. All such losses or expenses have to be borne and paid for by the participant.

Ritz Tours accepts no responsibility for value, reliability, quality or authenticity of any goods purchased while on tour or for any mailing, freight or shipping arrangements.

Ritz Tours reserves the right to decline to accept, or retain any person as tour participant, should such person’s health, mental condition, physical infirmity or general deportment impede the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare or enjoyment of other tour participants.

Ritz Tours reserves the right to substitute hotels, and alter the itinerary, withdraw any tour and make any desirable alteration for the convenience of the operation of tours.

Ritz Tours reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to departure for any reason. Liability for such cancellation is limited to full refund of money received by Ritz Tours, and this will constitute full settlement with the tour member.

Baggage and baggage contents are solely the owner’s risk and expense, and baggage insurance is recommended. Ritz Tours is not responsible for loss, theft, damage or delay to passenger’s baggage or baggage contents.

Ritz Tours is not responsible for typographical or printing errors or omissions in the brochure or web site.

Ritz Tours accepts no responsibility for costs, which may occur as a result of a participant failing to secure adequate insurance coverage, which coverage is highly recommended. Generally, your health insurance does not cover expenses outside the USA.

Ritz Tours is not responsible for participant’s visa or passport requirements, nor will a refund of unused services be made, nor reimbursement of any additional expenditure if a participant is denied entry to a country for this or any other reason.

The general conditions under which you agree to utilize the services of Ritz Tours may not be amended in any way, except in writing, by an authorized officer of Ritz Tours. By utilizing the services of Ritz Tours, you agree that the exclusive venue for all claims shall be the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and such claims shall be determined according to the laws and jurisdiction of the State of California.